I haven't been to the Schaumburg show but the first big show I went to was the International Quilt Show. Had a wonderful time. Some quilters gave me advice to be sure and check out all the vendors before purchasing and still do that today. It keeps you from overpaying and helps in making good decisions so if you spot a pricier item you must have, you can adjust your budget accordingly....also, some vendors have the same merchandise for less. I pay a little extra for the booklet at the entrance (around $10) and mark booths with little notes so I'm sure not to miss something on the second (or third lol) time around. Afterwards, I tape any business cards to the same section so I can keep in touch with shops that offer online fabrics or notions.
For the quilts, I take my time going through. I photograph some of my favorites when allowed.